This is in response to the Sun Journal article June 3 regarding the Auburn City Council’s vote on June 1 that defeated an offer from Gov. Paul LePage’s office to give the Lewiston-Auburn Charter Commission $50,000 to help pay the costs of drafting a combined Lewiston and Auburn charter.

In reaction to the tie vote by Auburn councilors, defeating a resolution pledging support for the Commission’s work, Charter Commission chairman Gene Geiger stated, “We are not asking them to support any conclusions. That would be crazy, because there is not enough substance for us to even ask for support when we don’t have our ducks lined up and justifications distilled. This is primarily to respond to the governor’s offer.”

I believe it is difficult for people to approve something that they don’t and won’t support when the conclusions are defined. Many Auburn citizens are not in favor of pursuing a merger between Lewiston and Auburn. Why would we want to approve pursuing fundraising and hiring of attorneys for something we don’t want, simply to get money from the governor for the project?

I had initially voted to support the resolution but now oppose it because it does not guarantee the governor would provide any aid. I fear that Auburn taxpayers will ultimately be asked to pay for the Charter Commission’s work.

Charter Commissioner Chip Morrison said that is not true — that the money would not come from Lewiston-Auburn taxpayers. If the governor is going to give $50,000 in state funds to the project, how is that not coming from the taxpayers, including from Lewiston-Auburn?

Up front, Morrison said the commission had no money to spend. Any money that has been spent has come out of his own pocket. Later, he stated that he has already raised $14,000 so far from residents and local businesses and has commitments for another $10,000. Do those individuals and businesses have any expectations to receive anything if the merger goes through? Have any promises been made? Is there any more deception going on?

It appears that this is a political game that backfired. Councilor Adam Lee voted against the process so that, if it failed, he would be able to bring it back to the table at the next meeting. That is allowed under Roberts Rules of Order. Because of the tie vote, the matter failed.

The result should show the governor that we do not want the state involved in our decisions and do not want the state to make any deals with the Charter Commission. The governor’s offer of $50,000 is taxpayers’ money and should not be spent in that way.

I believe that state government should not get involved in local city business.

Leroy Walker Sr., Auburn City Councilor, Ward 5